Ignition booster



g- 1930- J. H. MAYFORTH 1,773,920

IGNITION BOOSTER Filed Nov. 9, 192

Patented Aug. 26, 1930 JOHN H. MAYZFORTH, OF QUEENS VILLAGE, NEW YORKIGNITION BOOSTER Application filed November 9, 1928. Serial No. 318,115.

This invention relates to the ignition circuits of internal combustionengines, and particularly to the provision of a booster in such circuitsfor increasing the voltage of the ignition circuit in the operation ofstarting the engine; and the object of the invention is to provide abooster of the class described involving an independent auxiliary sourceof electric supply adapted to be placed in series with the usual sourceof electric supply and controlled by a switch to intensify and increasethe voltage of the ignition circuit in the operation of starting anengine and especially when electric starters are used which receive thesupply of electric energy from the usual source; a further object beingto provide a switch controlling the auxiliary booster circuit which isautomatic or semiautomatic in operation and which may constitute a partof or be actuated by the choke operating member of the engine; a furtherobject being to provide the booster ignition circuit with another switchfor controlling the operation of said circuit; and with these and otherobjects in view, the invention consists in an ignition booster of theclass and for the purpose specified which is simple in construction,efficient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described andclaimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, ofwhich the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate partsof my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters ineach of the views, and in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showingone method of carrying my invention into efiect; and,

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and showing a modification.

t will be understood that my invention may be employed in connectionwith any type of ignition circuits used in internal combustion engines,and further I am not necessarily limited to the type, character or useof the engine. For the purpose of illustrating one use of my invention,I have diagrammatically illustrated at 5 in Fig. 1 of the drawing, thedistributor of an ignition cirings in circuit with the distributor, andthis circuit together with the battery and starter circuit is of the onewire or ground type, but other types may be employed.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, I have shown at 7 the usual storagebattery employed in connection with engines or motor vehicles of variouskinds and classes, and at 8 an electric starting motor in circuit withthe battery 7 through a wire 9 in which is placed the usual starterbutton switch 10. In both figures of the drawing, I have shown at 11 anauxiliary source of current supply which may be of any desired voltageand a battery of any particular construction, it being preferred that adry cell one and one-half volt battery be used. The negative pole of thebattery 11 is placed in circuit with the positive pole of the storagebattery 7 through a wire 12, whereas the positive pole of the battery 11is adapted to be placed in circuit with the wire 13 leading to theignition circuit through a wire 1 1 and a switch element which in Fig. 1is designated at 15, and in Fig. 2 at 16. 1

The structure shown in Fig. 2 differs from that shown in Fig. 1 simplyin the type of switch employed and the manner of its operation. In Fig.1 of the drawing, the switch 30 element 15 preferably constitutes a partof or is actuated by a choke lever or rod 17 controlling the carbureterof the engine in the usual manner. From the structure shown in Fig. 1,the choke lever 17 is of the push pull 5 type and has arranged thereonand insulated therefrom an elongated switch part 18 which when the chokelever is in depressed or innermost position as indicated in dotted linesat 17 completes the circuit through two contact elements 19 and 20, oneelement being at the end of the wire 13 and the other in circuit withthe wire 12. When the choke 17 is moved upwardly or outwardly to itsfull extent as indicated in full lines in Fig. 1, the circuit throughthe contacts 19 and 20, will be broken, and a circuit will be completedthrough the contact 20 and another contact 21 in the wire 14. A manuallycontrolled switch 22 is placed on the wire 12 and a similar switch 23 isplaced on the wire 13. The switch 23 controls the ignition circuit totheengine as is the common practice, whereas the switch22 controls theoperation of the auxiliary circuit through the battery 11.

The operation of the construction shown in Fig. 1 will be as follows.Under normal operating conditions of the engine, in other words, whenthe same will start readily especially when operating in warmtemperatures and the condition of the oil of the engine is 1n a freelyflowing state, the switch 22 will be moved into an open position todirect the auxiliary circuit through the battery 11, and the depressionof the starter button 10 will cause the engine to be started, theignition circuit being supplied with electric energy solely from thebattery 7 through the wire 12, the contacts 19 and 20, the switch 23 andthus to the distributor 5. 1n this condition of engine operation, thechoke 17 is in its innermost or inoperative position as indicated at 17a in Fig. 1 of the drawing, and this will also be true regardless of thetype of choke or choke actuating means employed, such chokes havinvarious t es of o eration.

In the aforesaid operation, and assuming that the engine starts readily,there will beno appreciable reduction on the voltage supplied to theignition circuit. However, should the engine fail to start readily orshould the battery 7 be in a discharged condition, the starting of theengine may be expedited by movlng the switch 18 into position tocomplete the circuit through the battery 11 by completing the circuitsthrough the contacts 20 and 21. ltu this position, it will be seen thatthe ignition circuit will be supplied with electric energy of thevoltage discharged from the battery 7 plus the added voltage of thebattery 11. For example, it the battery 7 1S discharging four voltsinstead of six with the added one and one-halt voltage of the battery11, a total voltage supply of live and onehalt volts will be transmittedto the ignition circuit, thus producing a hot spark, facilitating thequick starting of the engine.

The result above described may also be accomplished in the starting ofan engine in cold weather when the lubricating oils are in a heavy andmore or less gummy state or at any time when the choke operating leveror rod is actuated or is found necessary to actuate to produce a quickstarting of the engine.

In long continued use, the battery 11 will materially save and maintaina comparative lyhigh voltage in the battery 7 in eliminating thenecessity of lengthy actuations of the starting motor 8 in the attemptto start an engine as will be apparent. T he control of the auxiliarycircuit may be regulated through the switch 22 which may be arranged ina place accessible to the operator of a vehicle or other apparatus.

1n Fig. 2 of the drawing, 1 have shown 8.

switch 23 similar to the switch 28 controlling the ignition circuitthrough the wire 13 the same as in Fig. 1 of the drawing. In thisconstruction, the switch element 16 normally completes the circuit tothe battery 7 through the wire 12 by engagement of the free end of theswitch element 16 with a contact 19 similar to the contact 19. In thisconstruction, instead of actuating the switch element through a chokeoperating member or lever 1 employ an electromagnet 24 arranged to 0perat-ively engage the switch element 16 so that in the completion of thecircuit through the magnet 21, the switch element 16 will be moved outof engagement with the contact 19"- and into engagement with a contact21 similar to the contact 21 to complete the circuit through the battery11.

In the construction shown, the electromagnet 2% is energized by placingthe same in circuit with the starting motor 8 through a wire 25 in whichis placed a manually operated switch 26, which switch will serve thesame purpose as the switch 22. In other words, when the circuit isbroken through the wire 25, the circuit from the body 11 will be broken.

1n the construction shown in Fig. 2, the depression of the starterbutton 10 for starting the engine will also complete a circuit throughthe magnet 24:, when the switch 26 is in closed position to cause theswitch element'16 to be moved into engagement with the contact 21completing the ignition circuit through both of the batteries 7 and 11.As soon as the engine starts and the switch 10 moves into inoperativeposition, the current is broken through the magnet 24, thus releasingthe switch element 16 and immediately completing the ignition circuit tothe battery 7 alone. The operation of the circuit shownin Fig. 2 willotherwise be the same as that shown in Fig. 1 and will be con-' trolledand operated to suit the existing temperature conditions and to providea quick i starting of the engine at all times. lt will also be noted ona consideration of Fig. 1, that the switch 22 maybe moved intoengagement with a contact 1 1 in the wire 14 in the operation ofbreaking the circuit to the battery 11 so as to insure the completion ofthe ignition circuit from the battery 7 through the switch element 15regardless of the position assumed by said element in the operation ofthe choke.

It will also be apparent that my improved auxiliary circuit mayconstitute a unit readily attachable to any motor vehicle or coupledwith the ignition and starting circuit of engines of any kind or class,and if desired, may be built into the ignition and starting circuits inthe construction of the vehicle. While I have diagrammaticallyillustrated two methods of carrying my invention into effect, it will beunderstood that I am not necessarily limited to the arrangements hereinshown and described and various changes I therein and modificationsthereof may be through one of said circuits, and said switch elementbeing in operative engagement with the choke control which is actuatedin the I act of starting the engine. 1

2. The combination with a storage battery for supplying electric energyto starting and ignition circuits of an internal combustion engine, of avoltage booster involving a battery and a switch element for placing thebooster battery in series with said storage battery to increase thevoltage transmitted through one of said circuits, said switch elementbeing in operative engagement with the choke control which is actuatedin the act of starting the engine, and another switch controlling thebooster circuit.

3. A voltage booster for starting and ignition circuits of an internalcombustion engine comprising a battery adapted to be placed in serieswith the electric su ply to said circuits, a switch controlling saldelec tric supply, said switch being in operative engagement with thechoke control which is actuated in the act of starting the enginewhereby the circuit through said booster battery is completed when saidchoke control is actuated.

4. The combination with the starting and ignition circuits and chokecontrol of an internal combustion engine, of a voltage booster involvinga battery, a switch arranged upon and actuated by said choke control forplacing the booster battery in series with the usual current supply tosaid circuits, to facilitate the quick starting and operation of theengine in actuating said choke control.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname this 8th day of November, 1928.

JOHN H. MAYFORTH.

